The Babysitter (2017)

This is going to be a short one, pals, because I straight up loved this movie. Dearest Netflix, this is the ambitious, entertaining, ballsy content that I signed up for. Well done.

From the opening scene, through every minute of its incredibly reasonable hour-and-a-half runtime, this film lives out its fullest potential. From the story, to the editing, to the grade-A performances, McG’s The Babysitter is by all counts a banger.

Cinematically, this film is passionately adventurous, with smooth tracking shots from inside of a crawl space to the creative use of the stairs in blocking some of the signature horror scenes.

Cole (Judah Lewis, or mini Zac Efron) delivers a fantastic and believable performance, and the same can be said for babysitter Bee (Samara Weaving). Cole’s parents — and each of the hopeful cultists — are spot-on stereotypical in the best of ways, and Cole’s best friend Melanie (Emily Alyn Lind) has a strong third act.

I can’t call it a “horror comedy,” as that subtitle conjures up the Scary Movie franchise, and this really isn’t that. This is a film with deliciously bloody and fun gore, a slasher/chase-em-up mashup with brilliantly executed comedic lines and moments, a coming-of-age meets Goonies-style adventure tale packed with action.

And against all odds, folks, the scares were damn good, too. I still found the jumps and the gruesome deaths enough to pop me up and churn my stomach, albeit with a huge smile on my face.

All in all, this movie was a true delight, and I sincerely hope to see more of McG on Netflix in the future.

Carly is an unapologetically opinionated writer who enjoys long walks on the beach, gazing adoringly at breathtaking sunsets, and consuming all forms of unadulterated, stomach-churning, sweat-inducing horror — the bloodier the better. Hit her up on the Twitter she sometimes uses @snarlyjones.

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